Aerosol valve for comestibles



April 16, 1968 A. F. BARKER 3,378,205

AEROSOL VALVE FOR COMESTIBLES Filed May 31, 1966 Mi: A

TTORNE United States Patent 3,378,205 AEROSOL VALVE FOR COMESTIBLES Arthur Frederick Barker, Newark, DeL, assiguor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours-and Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 31, 1966, Ser. No. 553,779 4 Claims. (Cl. 239-337) The present invention is directed to novel aerosol valve assemblies for pressurized aerosol containers. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an improved aerosol valve assembly adapted to be self-sealing, that is, having provision for automatically closing off from the atmosphere the discharge orifice in the valve assembly except during those periods when the package is in use.

In relatively recent years, a great many products have come tobe sold in pressurized aerosol containers in which a product, usually a liquid, is discharged from the container under pressure generatedby an aerosol propellant within the container. Control of the discharge of the'product is maintained by means of a valve assembly ordinarily mounted at the mouth of the container. The valve assembly usually includes an actuating device for opening the valve and a discharge orifice through which the active ingredient is dispensed.

Despite the continually increasing number of products being marketed in aerosol containers, there has been heretofore a large number of products, especially those where the non-volatile component forms crystalline deposits or dry films, which are not eiiectively marketed in this manner. These products include those which for one reason or another clog the discharge orifice and passageways in the valve assembly on exposure to the atmosphere.

The'ditficulty arises from the fact that in the usual arrangement of the valve assembly there is a substantial distance between the valve closure and the discharge orifice through which the aerosol contents are discharged. As a result, the passageways connecting these points through which the product must pass before discharge are essentially dead spaces which are constantly exposed to the atmosphere. Inasmuch as there is always some residue of product left within these dead spaces after initial discharge of the aerosol, such residue product, due to the action of air, will eventually clog these passageways and will prevent further dispensing of the product from the aerosol container. I

Accordingly, this invention is directed to an improved aerosol valve assembly to be used in combination with a pressurizer container for dispensing products, such as comestibles, paints, and anti-perspirants, which does not leave the dead space between the valve closure and discharge orifice exposed to the atmosphere. In this manner, the problem inherent in said dead spaces such as the action of the air is eliminated. A further advantage of the present valve assembly is that the valve closure mechanism involves the action of a hard knife edge surface which wipes the sealing valve member free of dispensed product upon closure.

The present preferred form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing and will be described in detail hereinafter for the purpose of illustrating one way in which the invention may be made and used. From What has been said above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles and advantages of the invention could be obtained in other forms of the invention not specifically shown herein. The accompanying drawing and description to follow are, accordingly, by way of example only and are not intended to define or restrict the scope of the invention,

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Patented Apr. 16, 1968 A better understanding of the invention will be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application and. illustrates a preferred embodiment of thisinvention.

'In' the accompanying drawing:

FIGURE 1 is 'an elevational view in section of the valve assembly when in a closed position.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view in section of the valve assembly when in an open or'dis'charging position.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view in section taken on plane 3'3 in FIGURE 2.

' Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is shown a pressurized aerosol container valve assembly comprising a standard internal valving mechanism such as the one described in US. Patent 2,631,814. This internal valving mechanism consists of a valve body 1, a primary return spring 2, and a discharge stem 3 and internal valve member 3a axially movable within the hollow upper chamber 4 of valve body 1. The valve body 1 is held within container cap 5 by an annular crimp at boss section 6 which forces valve body 1 into sealing engagement with resilient annular ring 9. Within discharge stem 3, a passageway 7 is located having one or more side ports 8. A passageway 10 in the lower section of valve body 1 is a connecting inlet passageway between the container and chamber 4. Supporting primary return spring 2 at the base of the upper section of valve body 1 are rib sections 11. Rib sections 11 enable the contents of the container to flow up passageway 10 into chamber 4 when spring 2 is fully compressed during discharge. The container cap 5 is attached to the aerosol can 12 by appropriate techniques well known by those skilled in the art, such as crimping as shown, to obtain the necessary pressure seal.

A valve actuator 13 is mounted on top of the discharge stem 3 containing an internal chamber 14 which is aligned with passageway 7 of discharge stem 3. An orifice plate 15 having a discharge orifice 16 therein forms an opening to the atmosphere. The arrangement of these passageways in valve actuator 13 is more clearly understood by reference of FIGURE 3. It will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art that these passageways in the valve actuator may include various mechanical breakup or atomizing devices to provide desired spray characteristics.

Actuator cap 17 is superimposed over valve actuator 13 in a manner which allows cap 17 to slide axially down ward over valve actuator 13 when depressed. Actuator cap 17 is molded with the knife edge of port in a depressed position so that the resilience of the material causes the knife edge to bear against orifice plate 15. A partially compressed secondary return spring 18 maintains the cap 17 in a position whereby the lower ridge 19 of the cap 17 bears on the underside of the valve actuator 13. The adaptor cap 17 contains port 20 which normally is held non-aligned by the action of secondary return spring 18 with discharge orifice 16 of the valve actuator 13. Spring 18 can be a metallic helical spring member or a compressible elastomeric member.

Since this type of valve is mainly used in the upright position, it will normally be provided with a dip tube attachment such as that shown in FIGURE 1. The dip tube 21, shown broken away in the drawing, is a conduit of sufficient length to extend to the bottom of the container 12. The dip tube is attached to the valve assembly by being pressed over the reduced diameter portion of valve body 1. The dip tube 21 is made from any flexible material such as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride.

FIGURE 2 shows the valve assembly in open position. It will be seen that as downward pressure is applied to actuator cap 17 the lighter secondary return spring 13 3 is further compressed permitting cap 17 to move down- Ward along valve actuator 13 until port 219 is aligned with orifice 16 in the valve actuator 13. Further axial pressure on cap 17 pushes stem 3 downward and compresses heavy primary return spring 2. When stem 3 is moved downwardly, tapered portion 22 of the neck portion of stem 3 presses the central portion of resilient member 9 downwardly and, because the outer portion of said resiliicnt member 9 is gripped between the upper edge of the valve body 1 and the container cap 5, the central portion is flexed, thereby causing an enlargement of the lower edge of the inside diameter of resilient member 9. By virtue of the above flexing action, port 8 breaks its sealing contact with the inside diameter of resilient member 9 and an annular clearance is created communicating between passageway 7 and chamber 4. In this manner, the contents of the aerosol container fiow under pressure up passageway 16 into chamber 4, through port 8 into passageway 7 and chamber 14, and hence through aligned orifice 16 and port 20 to the atmosphere. Upon release of the axial pressure on cap 17, heavy primary return spring 2 first closes the internal valve mechanism by moving stem 3 upward, thus allowing resilient member 9 to seal off port 8 from chamber 4. Upon further release of the axial pressure on cap 17, the weaker secondary return spring 18 forces cap 17 to slide axially upward on valve actuator 13 disaligning orifice 16 and port 20. At the same time, the knife edge of port 20 wipes clean orifice plate 15 and forms an air-exclusion seal.

Actuator cap 17, valve actuator 13, and orifice plate 15 may be fashioned from a hard plastic such as nylon, polystyrene, or an acetal. Resilient member 9 may be made from rubber polyethylene, or the like. Rubber is the preferred material of construction.

The present invention constitutes an axial valving mechanism and spray assembly, particularly adapted to less viscous aerosol contents such as spray paints, deodorants, and thin comestibles.

It will be seen that the novel valve assembly of this invention does not' leave the space between the valve closure and the discharge orifice exposed to the atmosphere. It will also be seen that the action of the actuator cap 17 provides a hard knife edge which will wipe the orifice plate 15 free of any dispensed product upon C105- ing the valve assembly. It will also be seen that the difference in the compression rates in the primary and secondary return springs effectively prevents the full internal pressure of the aerosol contents from being accidentally exerted against the interior surface of the tapered portion of the actuator cap forming the hard knife edge, thus preventing deformation of this important part of the valve assembly.

As many apparetnly widely different embodiment of this invention may be made without departing from the the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed as defined as follows:

1. A valve assembly for a pressurized aerosol container comprising (A) an internal valve closing means consisting of a tubular valve body, a primary return spring supported internally within said valve body, said spring bearing against an internal valve member which moves axially within said valve body and contains an interior passageway, a resilient annular member fitting around said internal valve member at the top of said valve body, and a side passageway in said internal valve member joining with the interior passageway of said internal valve member and normally closed by bearing against said resilient annular member, and

(B) discharge means co-operating with said internal valve member consisting of a valve actuator, having an internal chamber and discharge orifice, mounted over said internal valve member, a secondary return spring means supported by said actuator and bearing against a cap which is superimposed over said valve actuator, said cap adapted to slide axially over said valve actuator, said cap having a discharge port which bears against the valve actuator and is normally held in a non-aligned position with the discharge orifice by action of the secondary return spring means, said secondary spring means being of less compressive strength than said primary spring so that upon actuation said cap will slide axially downward over said valve actuator to align the discharge port of the cap with the orifice of the actuator before opening the internal valve means by separating the side passageway of said internal valve member from contact with the resilient annular member.

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein a conduit of sufiicient length to extend into the internal portion of the aerosol container which is farthest from the valve assembly is connected to the valve body of said valve closing means.

3. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the resilient annular member is made of rubber.

4. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the secondary return spring means is effected by an elastomeric compressible member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,981 5/1961 Bretz 239--l23 2,550,302 4/1951 Seibcl 22292 2,631,814 3/1953 Abplanalp 251-137 2,645,387 7/1953 Kahn 222-384 3,146,922 9/1964 Tuttle 222--4O2.12 3,154,224 10/1964 Wakeman 239579 3,155,291 11/1964 Vi/akeman 222402.12 3,169,673 2/1965 Focht 222-182 3,254,677 6/1966 \Vakernan l37-630.22

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR A PRESSURIZED AEROSOL CONTAINER COMPRISING (A) AN INTERNAL VALVE CLOSING MEANS CONSISTING OF A TUBULAR VALVE BODY, A PRIMARY RETURN SPRING SUPPORTED INTERNALLY WITHIN SAID VALVE BODY, SAID SPRING BEARING AGAINST AN INTERNAL VALVE MEMBER WHICH MOVES AXIALLY WITHIN SAID VALVE MEMBER WHICH INTERIOR PASSAGEWAY, A RESILIENT ANNULAR MEMBER FITTING AROUND SAID INTERNAL VALVE MEMBER AT THE TOP OF SAID VALVE BODY, AND A SIDE PASSAGEWAY IN SAID INTERNAL VALVE MEMBER JOINING WITH THE INTERIOR PASSAGEWAY OF SAID INTERNAL VALVE MEMBER AND NORMALLY CLOSED BY BEARING AGAINST SAID RESILIENT ANNULAR MEMBER, AND (B) DISCHARGE MEANS CO-OPERATING WITH SAID INTERNAL VALVE MEMBER CONSISTING OF A VALVE ACTUATOR, HAVING AN INTERNAL CHAMBER AND DISCHARGE ORIFICE, MOUNTED OVER SAID INTERNAL VALVE MEMBER, A SECONDARY RETURN SPRING MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID ACTUATOR AND BEARING AGAINST A CAP WHICH IS SUPERIMPOSED OVER SAID VALVE ACTUATOR, SAID CAP ADAPTED TO SLIDE AXIALLY OVER SAID VALVE ACTUATOR, SAID CAP HAVING A DISCHARGE PORT WHICH BEARS AGAINST THE VALVE ACTUATOR AND IS NORMALLY HELD IN A NON-ALIGNED POSITION WITH THE DISCHARGE ORIFICE BY ACTION OF THE SECONDARY RETURN SPRING MEANS, SAID SECONDARY SPRING MEANS BEING OF LESS COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH THAN SAID PRIMARY SPRING SO THAT UPON ACTUATION SAID CAP WILL SLIDE AXIALLY DOWNWARD OVER SAID VALVE ACTUATOR TO ALIGN THE DISCHARGE PORT OF THE CAP WITH THE ORIFICE OF THE ACTUATOR BEFORE OPENING THE INTERNAL VALVE MEANS BY SEPARATING THE SIDE PASSAGEWAY OF SAID INTERNAL VALVE MEMBER FROM CONTACT WITH THE RESILIENT ANNULAR MEMBER. 